The Great Beekeeping Debate

...untry is a different question than how to keep a few hives in a biodiverse urban area. To be fair, the first question is essential since it’s how we currently keep everyone fed. But much of the advice given to large scale beekeepers does not always apply to small scale backyard beekeepers. The hubris can go both ways. Those of us on the natural beekeeping side can also think we understand the whole better than we do. We can fall into the same redu...

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What does the loving landscape look like?

...first, was transformed by nature into a sort of secret park known only to urban explorers–and then, beginning in 2006, was refashioned into a much loved public attraction by a team of architects and designers. If you can get your hands on Walking the High Line by Joel Sternfeld, it’s well worth a look to see how nature had gained a strong foothold in on the train tracks before the designers moved in, even though she had to work high in the air on...

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Saturday Tweets: Holiday Weekend Edition

...be born: https://t.co/UGG7C8WNWH — Root Simple (@rootsimple) May 21, 2015 Urban Farmers Say It's Time They Got Their Own Research Farms http://t.co/E9XucbOcfb — Root Simple (@rootsimple) May 21, 2015 Green Hot Sauce recipe: http://t.co/mD1xjPt4z9 — Root Simple (@rootsimple) May 22, 2015 Not a new video, but thoughtful and beautiful re: handcraft: A World Through the Hands http://t.co/992T4RhuWk via @beingtweets — Root Simple (@rootsimple) May...

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So Cal Alert: Polyphagus Shot Hole Borer

...two or three feet. That’s no quick sprinkle with a hose! Visit the Inland Urban Forest Council to download a PDF about how to properly water your trees. Also, we might suggest that this is a great time to install a laundry to landscape graywater system. Many thanks to our excellent arborist, Nick Araya of Tree Care LA, who came out yesterday to look at our drought-stressed avocado tree (no beetles yet, thankfully!) and gave me the 411 on the Poly...

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Saturday Tweets: Oatmeal, Bikes and a Pickle Maker

...5Xs7x — Root Simple (@rootsimple) July 28, 2015 The Skip Garden a moveable urban veggie patch built with 90% reclaimed materials http://t.co/LnpEmIPMIB — Root Simple (@rootsimple) August 1, 2015 ‘Sandorkraut: A Pickle Maker’ http://t.co/l04xhAZ3AF — Root Simple (@rootsimple) July 30, 2015 Watch bicyclist lift and move car blocking bike path via @BoingBoing http://t.co/0ut26E2kui — Root Simple (@rootsimple) July 28, 2015 On a ‘Tour De Tacos’ with L...

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